Hey everyone I am new to this forum but I really need advice- i have completely ruined my once decent skin. I have had mild acne since a while but was on Tazarc for years which made my skin smooth, even and pretty decent. This past year was super stressful for me bc I was giving my board exams and broke out alot. While it was minor it eft some post inflammation spots on my forehead and because of that I made the worst mistake of my life - I started obagi nuderm ( retina a & hydroquine). It works for some people but compleetly detroyed my skin. I had cystic acne on it and hyperpigmentation. I used it for four months and throw in the towel. I stopped in aug and now my skin seems to be worse and worse. I have this werid pigmentation around my mouth area that wont disappear ( and I never had this before the nuderm) and my skin just seems lifeless,pores huge and products dont seem to go in and they seem to sit on top of my skin. Plus my skin is not the same colour all over like I mentioned its darker around my mouth but red all over. And now if i have any bumps they seem to leave darker spots.

This whole situation has me stressed and feeling like crap, where as once I felt happy about myself I now feel like utter crap bc my skin has absolutly changed due to this retin-a . The texture is so different. I am so scared that this damge is permanant and Im stuck with two toned uneven blocthy red skin! Its to the point that Im afraid to put anything on my face in fear of it becominh worse!

Does anyone have any advice? or been throuh this? and if ur skin did finally return to it pre retin-a state?

My old derm told me to go back on the Tazarc which I have been for past week but Im scared nothing will reverse retin a and hydroquine damge? I learned a very harsh lesson - if its not broke dont fix it (should have stayed w taz, and not touched retin a) Anyone w the same experince/tips/advice please tell me...Im absolutly distressed, have my engagement party in feb and cant look like this!!!